Folding egg-crate



(No Model.)

' J. A. HASKETT.

FOLDING EGG CRATE.

No. 606,140. Patented June 21,1898.

attozw iJNifrnn STATES JAMES ALLEN HASKETT; OF PARSONS, KANSAS.

FOLDING EGG-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 606,140, dated June 21, 1898.

Application filed May 3, 1897. Serial No. 634,840. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs ALLEN HASKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Parsons, in the county of Labette and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Egg-Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such "as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to knockdown crates, and more particularly to crates designed for shipping eggs.

The object of the invention is to provide a crate of this character which when in use will be strong and not liable to be collapsed and which may be quickly folded into small compass, so as to occupy but little space.

\Vith this object in view the invention consists of certain features of construct-ion and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of an egg-crate, the cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cover in place, and Fig. 4 is a view of the crate folded.

The crate consists of the sides 1 and 2, ends 3 and 4, bottom 5, top 19, and partition 7. Each side is provided with a square end 8 and a beveled end 9, While each end piece is provided witha beveled end 10, opposing the beveled end of the side piece, and with a square end 11, opposing the square end of the side piece. The beveled ends of the side pieces are obliquely opposite to each other, while the beveled ends of the end pieces are also obliquely opposite each other. The beveled ends of the side and end pieces are connected by outside hinges 12, while the square ends of the end pieces and side pieces are connected 'together by inside hinges 13.

14 denotes cleats, which are secured to the inner faces of the side pieces near their lower ends and are provided with recesses 15, adapted to receive cross-pieces 16, secured to the under side of the bottom piece, thus firmly locking the bottom piece in position.

17 denotes a partition which isadapted to slide in grooves 18, formed in the inner faces of the side pieces. 19 denotes the cover,which is provided with downwardly-extending end pieces adapted to lie fiat against the end pieces of the crate. The top or cover of the box is removably secured in position by fastenings 20, which consist of a rod 21, pivoted by straps 22 to the ends of the crate. The upper ends of these rods are bent at a right angle to the length of the rod and are seated in recesses 23, formed in the upper edge of the end pieces, While the lower ends of the rods are bent and extend at right angles to the upper end and form handles.

The end pieces of the cover or top are provided with vertical slots 24:,which are adapted to slip down over the vertical portions of the rod, and With intersecting transverse slots 25, through which the upper ends of the fasteners are adapted to swing and lock the cover in position.

When not in use, the box may be folded into the position shown in Fig. 4, the partition, cover, and bottom being placed between the folded sides and ends of the box.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the scope of my invention Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

A folding crate, comprising the sides 1 2, ends 3 4 bottom and top, 5 and 19 respectively, and partition 17, each side provided with a square end 8 and a bevel end 9, while each end piece is provided with a beveled end 10, opposing the bevel end of the side piece and with a square end 11, opposing the square end of the side piece, hinges secured to the outside of the beveled ends of the end and side'piece's, hinges secured to the inside of the square ends of the end and side pieces, cleats let secured to the inner faces of the side pieces near their lower edges and provided with recesses 15, cross-pieces secured to the under side of the bottom piece and seated in said recesses, and fasteners for securing the top piece in place, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ALLEN HASKETT. Witnesses:

W. M. NORDYKE, N. A. ADAMS. 

